Display device



Oct. 16, 1928.

H. L, MYERS DISPLAY DEVICE I Filed Feb. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllllllll 1N VENTOR H. L, MYERS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N.V ENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES I 1,687,881 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD L. MYERS, OF MOBRISTO'WN, NEW JERSEY.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed February 2, 1927. Serial No. 165,268.

This invention relates to display means for small articles of merchandise and has particular reference to a device designed to hold a number of similar or analogous articles and 6 to stand erect upon the show case or to be .hung from a hook or nail as may seem most expedient according to the merchants facilities.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a holder for items of merchandise, the holder to be made from cardboard or other relatively cheap material by the exercise of a relatively cheap process of construction and for the individual items or articles to be held individually in the best possible display position and by an individual arrangement of keeper or pocket construction that is individual to the individual item so that when an item or article is removed from the card or 2 display device, the keeper or pocket that held it will be free to drop out and be discarded, whereby theremaining device and items held thereby will not be disturbed either as to general appearance or holding properties for the items remaining.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device which when used in the nature of an easel and is maintained in self.- su'pporting position for display purposes, is possessed of certain feature of novelty respecting the binding or reinforcing of the exposed edges and with a peculiarly arranged base and means for maintaining the base substantially fiat and in best holding position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and-while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several. views, and in which'- Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central transverse section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is adiagrammatic perspective view of the same structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but showing additionally the inside appearance of the panels.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank of one of construction disclosed or suggested herein,.

the keepers or pocket structures in accordance with the principal disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank of the main holder.

Figs. 7 and 8 are front and rear elevations of the keepers or pockets.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a modification.

'Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. i v I Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank of the keeper of Figs. 9 and 10. j

Referring now more particularly to the first set of figures, I show my improvement as formed principally from a single sheet or strip of cardboard or its equivalent, see Fig. 6. the same comprising two substantially similar or duplicate panels 10 and 10 having top extensions 11 united thereto by bending or weakened line12 and united at their lower ends through a base structure comprising two panels 13 and 13 united to the respective panels 10 and 10 through bending or-hinge lines 14 and 14, the base panels being hinged together along a hinge line 15 which is adapted to fold upward when the device is collapsed for packing, shipping. or when used as a hanger. The top portions 11 of the anels are secured permanently together by an suitable means as by glue and are provided with an eyelet 16 for engagement over a nail or hook.

Each panel 10 and 10* is provided with lateral flanges 17 and 17 foldable inward around folding or hinge lines 18 and are glued or pasted down flat against the inner.

' iacent to the top. but it will be noted that the flanges pertinent to the panels 10 are slightly shortened at the bottomat 19. The flanges 17, however, are provided-with integral extensions 20 cut from and extending along the ends of the base panels 13 and 13, the extensions being connected by hinge lines 21 to the lower ends of the flan es 17'. -When therefore the flanges 17 are folded inward against the inner surface of the panel 10 the extensions 20 will fold directlv upward so as either to lie directly between the flanges 17 and 1'7 or to be swung downward until their free ends snap beneath the lower ends of the flanges 17 where they enter the notches or spaces 19. These extensions 20 are not bent or broken between their ends and consequently they constitute braces or struts of substantial stiffness so as to serve to hold the base flat as shown in Fig. 2 and with the panels '10 and 10 suitably braced apart for selfsupporting position when the device is stood upon its base as upon a show case. The braces 20 being cut from the same blank and within the limits of the flanges as shown in Fig. 6, they add nothing to the expense of the con struction in so far as the material is concerned.

Either or both of the panels. both as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, are provided with pairs of openings 22, shown as in the form of slots extending vertically of the device and parallel to each other. The slots or openings 22 may be variously designed both as .to relative sizes or proportions and capacity according to the particular items to be carried and displayed by the device. As thus far described the display device is intended for long relatively slender articles such as pencils, paint brushes, combs, or the like that are adapted to be held in substantially horizontal position upon the outer surface of the respective panels. Each pairof slots or openings-22 are indicated as adapted to receive means to support or hold three items, but obviously the.

slots'might be longer or shorter according to the nature of the items to be held.

For a long article such as a pencil, comb, or the like, I provide a keeper or pocket made in accordance with Figs. 5, 6, and 8, the same comprising two main shank members 23 having integral strap portions 24 at the ends'connected' by bending lines 25. While the shank members 23 are indicated as mating together throughout their length and are coextensive with each other in Width and length, the strap members 24, between the lines 25,are somewhat shorter than the clear space between the main portions of the shank members. The result is thereforethat when the keeper or pocket is formed by bringing one of the shank members over upon the other where it is glued or otherwise permanently connected, the bending line portions 25 of the straps 24 project laterally from the side edges of the shank portion23, thereby producing at each strap 24 a pocket or keeper wider than the main shank structure and with sulficient fullness to receive an article having substantial thickness.

The offsetting of the bending lines 25 from the inner edges of the shank members 23 in sures ample fullness for the reception of the item. The strap members 24 are made preferably of the same width as the slots 22 through which the straps are projected from the rear or within the space between the two j panels 10- and 10. Furthermore, the keepers are designed to fit thearticles to be supported thereby and the slots are so formed that a predetermined number of the keepers will be received thereinto for substantially filling the slots. This number is shown as three in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. When the keeper devices are inserted as just described, pairs of pockets are presented for the insertion of the combs or other items where they are held by a moderate degree of friction incidenttothebending forward of the devices adjacent to the hinge lines 25 of the straps. The shank portion of the keeper lies fiat against the inner surface of the panel, while the strap portions 24 project forward through the slots and when the comb or other article is inserted, the parts are mutually interlocking,the keeper device holding the comb, and the comb holding the keeper device from slipping from the slots. When a comb is sold and removed from the display holder the keeper therefor, being no longer needed, simply drops out and is discarded, leaving all the, other items undisturbed and each held in place as just described. The blank for the keeper structure pocket-like keepers. The shank portion 23 lies flat agamst the inner surface of the panel 10 while the two strap members 24; project through short slots/ or substantially square holes 22. This form of the device would be suitable for holding a long article such as a pencil, but is peculiarly adapted for the holding of two short articlesas'indicated at 26, the principal difference between this and the previous form being that the o'cket or keeper structure .will be discarde only when the second item is removed. Obviously the panel 10 may be made up in easel form as set forth in the first set of figures or may assume any other suitable form or arrangement.

I claim:

1. In a display device, a panel havinga pair of openings therethrough, and means to hold an article of merchandise against the front surface of said panel, said holding means-consisting of a keeper having end loops or straps projectable forward through said openings and an integral shank connecting the strap members and lying flat against the rear surface of said panel, the keeper structure including two similar mating shank members secured together and having at the ends of the shank members a pair of stra s forming loops to receive and hold the 'artie e to be displayed.

2. In a dis lay device, a panel having a pair of openings therethrough, and means to hold an article of merchandise against the front surface oi said panel, said holding means consisting of a keeper having end loops or straps projecting forward through said openings and an integral shank connecting the strap members and lying flat against the rear surface of said panel, the holding keeper comprising two similar mating shank members foldable one upon the other and secured thereto, and the strap members being connected to the end portions of the shank bers. r

In testimony whereof aflix my signature.

HAROLD L. MYERS. 

